Matt Rhule has been a popular name associated with NFL head coaching vacancies over the past couple of years, and that chatter will grow even louder when the 2019 season comes to an end. While it does not sound like he is anxious to make the leap to the NFL, Rhule is not willing to guarantee he will return to Baylor next year.
Rhule was a guest on Adam Schefter’s podcast this week, and he spoke at length about the possibility of leaving Baylor for the NFL. He referred to his current job as an “unbelievable situation” but said he is not “dumb enough or naive enough to say that I would never be an NFL coach.”
Noteworthy NFL coaching search info: Baylor’s Matt Rhule on @AdamSchefter’s podcast: pic.twitter.com/L0Oe7bomhg
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 18, 2019
Rhule said he has turned down other college programs because he doesn’t want to go to a team that is simply looking for a good X’s and O’s coach. He feels he has helped build a strong program at Baylor from top to bottom, and he would only consider leaving for another job if he could be assured that same type of stability.
“When college teams have reached out to me, I am not leaving Baylor because we have a comprehensive football program being built all the way through every part of the athletic department,” Rhule said. “And I think if you want to be successful in the NFL, that’s really the only way you can do it and have sustained excellence over a period of time.”
Teams like the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns should probably cross Rhule of their list of candidates, if that’s the case. Those head coaching jobs are viewed as two of the least desirable in the NFL, and the reason for that is they lack the stability Rhule is seeking.
Of course, Rhule has also been linked to the Dallas Cowboys. Say what you will about Jerry Jones, but the Cowboys are one of the most successful franchises in sports history, and Jones is a big reason for that. The owner may have already hinted that he won’t go after a guy like Rhule, but it would be a surprise if Rhule turned down an interview with Dallas.
